NFU Scotland moves its AGM online
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Scotland's leading farming union has moved its planned AGM to an online-only event.
The decision by NFU Scotland came after tighter restrictions on gatherings were put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Plans for the union’s AGM, conference and annual dinner, scheduled to take place next month, had been initially prepared based on holding a hybrid event, where speakers and a limited audience would have met in Glasgow, with virtual proceedings being available to watch simultaneously.
With Covid cases at a high level, the decision was taken by NFU Scotland’s board of directors that the health and safety of all potential attendees is paramount and that the conference and AGM will now take place online.
The programme of events over February 10 and 11 is being finalised, but those who wish to register for the online event can go to: www.nfus.org.uk/about-nfus/agm-2022.aspx
NFUS said it would consider if rescheduling its annual dinner for later in the year is feasible.
Martin Kennedy, president of the union, said: “NFU Scotland’s AGM, conference and annual dinner holds a special place in the Scottish farming calendar. While all involved in this tremendous event will have wished for a return to normality, the Covid pandemic continues to wreak havoc with events and plans.
“NFU Scotland’s board of directors was unanimous in its decision that this key event goes ahead and that we move the 2022 event fully online. It is a format that worked incredibly well in February 2021 when we delivered a fantastic AGM and conference to a large online audience.
“With the conference programme for #NFUS2022 almost finalised, I can promise those who join us online an event packed with political engagement, policy debate and an insight into the role of social media in promoting our industry’s positive messages.
“Set against the backdrop of Brexit one-year on and the ongoing impact of Covid, discussions and presentations around future farm policy, trade, input prices, labour availability and farm assurance will ensure something for everyone to get engaged with.
“Face-to-face meetings and social gatherings will always be a hugely important part of NFU Scotland and are at the core of how we engage and interact with our members. While we all wish for more normal times, taking this important event online for the second year in a row will still ensure that the most important issues for our food and farming sector remain front and centre as we move into 2022.”
